An individual in a political action group I occasionally participate in started to flame a San Diego politician who has truly served the district I live in very well. Everytime I have had contact with her as a constituent, this county supervisor, Dianne Jacobs, my problems have been resolved. I issued the following comment on the list-serv:

This is not intended as a personal flame, but I would urge everyone to step back from the incendiary rhetoric. Instead of attacking Mrs. Jacobs, we should be happy that she put in the order to have the camp closed down in Alpine. I have only met Mrs. Jacobs once, but I think there is little argument that over the years she has been a great county supervisor "stepping up to the plate" when there has been a need to "step up to the plate" in our neck of the woods called East San Diego County.

No individual -- nor politician -- likes to be embarrassed in front of their constituents -- no matter their party affiliation. Believe me, as much as I hate to break the news, even Senators Boxer or Feinstein (with their big personal fortunes) or House Speaker Pelosi (not someone who collects food stamps or works at minimum wage, either) have their "handlers" to "spin the spin" to make sure they are always looking all shiny and pristine and purer than the driven snow. In my opinion, it is infantile and myopic to take issue with an individual just because of their political affiliation.

Whether it is in business or handling the nation's business, I look at what an individual has accomplished or not accomplished -- that's the real litmus test. Both sides of the political aisle have let the American people down. The brazen fact is that politicians on both sides of the aisle are beholden to lobbyists representing special interests. It is our responsibility as citizens to make sure that our elected representatives represent us and our views. We should let them know when they are wrong, but at the same time show them our praise and gratitude when they do right -- just as Supervisor Jacobs has done in this case.

Furthermore, I think cooler heads should prevail in our opposition to Blackwater. Just because Supervisor Jacobs doesn't come ranting and raving on our position doesn't mean she is against us. We need to show our respect and tolerance to the process rather than jumping to conclusions....just as we ask for respect and tolerance to our viewpoint on the matter. As a relative of mine in Latvia said, as they go down the road of being a young democracy after being under the Russian boot for over 50 years said to me (an observation made by many Balts), "You know, in the United States with there being so much democracy and so many voices, in the end, nobody seems to be listening."

Let's listen to each other, let's learn from each other, but let us do so in a respectful and civil manner rather than resorting to lobbing pejoratives at an individual just because their political ideologies may be different than ours. Neither side should be claiming that their are "right." Let us hope and pray that we are given the strength to follow "common sense."